BOISE, Idaho — New Mexico suffered a pair of block punts for touchdowns and UNM was forced to use three quarterbacks in the opening half, including Bryson Carroll, who was a graduate manager two weeks ago. UNM put up a solid defensive effort allowing just two offensive touchdowns, but UNM could get nothing goings offensively, and that spelled a 37-0 loss to Boise State on Senior Night for the Broncos.

UNM started Isaiah Chavez at quarterback and used Connor Genal in passing situations, but Chavez left in midway through the second quarter, injuring his already tender ankle. That forced Carroll into the game. Carroll was an option quarterback who played in two plays in 2017, and then switched the running back, but he didn’t see much action in 2018 and 2020. He stayed on scholarship but moved to a graduate manager’s role, but came back to the active roster last week.

New Mexico was down 7-0 before its defense stepped foot on the field as Kekaula Kaniho blocked an Aaron Rodriguez punt and Tyreque Jones picked it up and scored from seven yards out for a 7-0 lead. UNM’s defense was stout in the half, allowing just a field goal after that until a second blocked punt resulted in another touchdown. This time Alexander Teubner blocked the punt and Dylan Herberg picked up the ball at the six and ran it in.

It looked like it would be 17-0 into the break, but Boise State got a massive break when Genal was hit as he was throwing, and the ball traveled about 15 yards downfield in what looked to everyone to be an incomplete pass. BSU picked the ball up, and with no whistle blown, returned the ball, although a penalty knocked them back. A long replay review didn’t change anything despite some vehement protests of the Lobo coaches, who got a pretty good look at the play on the video board which included a telling closeup.

BSU took over with 17 seconds left and after a deep incompletion, the Bronco offense connect for its only offensive TD of the half as Hank Bachmeier hit Khalil Shakur for a 56-yard touchdown as the clock expired.

UNM never let up, but couldn’t amass much offensively.  The Lobos got down to the Bronco 35-yard line late in the third, but a sack knocked UNM back and Genal came in and overthrew Trace Bruckler with JL Skinner picking the ball off at the 20-yard line, ending the threat.

Boise State didn’t get a second offensive touchdown until 10:48 to go in the game when Jack Sears ran in from a yard-out after a pass interference penalty in the end zone extended the drive for BSU. UNM mustered just 101 yards, getting there on the final play of the game.

Postgame Notes

This was the 12th meeting between the two teams.

Boise State now leads the series 11-1 overall

Boise State now leads the series 5-1 in Boise

Boise State leads the series 6-0 in Albuquerque

Boise State has won five straight in the series

Starting lineup changes for UNM from published two-deep

Offense: Bobby Wooden started at running back for receiver Zarak Scruggs, Jr.

Defense: Donte Martin started at corner for Tony Collier.

*New Mexico’s captains were Jerrick Reed II, Kyle Stapley and Joey Noble.

*New Mexico’s Bryce Santana carried the state flag of New Mexico onto the field.

*Boise State won the toss and deferred. UNM elected to receive, and BSU defended the south goal.  UNM has received the opening kickoff in 17 of Danny Gonzales’ 18 games (Houston Baptist is the only exception).

TEAM NOTES:

*New Mexico punter Aaron Rodriguez had a punt blocked for the first time in his career. It occurred after the opening drive. It marked the first opponent blocked punt since Kina Maile blocked a Tyson Dyer on November 26, 2020. That block was also returned for a touchdown.

*UNM allowed two blocked punts for a touchdown. It marked the first time allowing

*The BSU special teams touchdown marked the second consecutive time in a UNM/BSU game that the Broncos scored before the offense took to the field. In 2019, UNM quarterback Tevaka Tuioti fumbled and Sonatane Lui scored from 24 yards out.

*The last time UNM was shutout twice in the same season was in 2011 when UNM suffered three shutouts.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES:

*Bryson Carroll, who played two plays at quarterback in 2017 in his true freshman season and was a running back from 2018-2020 served as a backup quarterback for the game after suiting up as an emergency quarterback last week. He had been serving as a graduate manager.

*Connor Genal, who started one game and had played in two in his career, made his season debut at quarterback in the first quarter. He suffered a fumble and an interception.

*Donte Martin picked off a Hank Bachmeier pass in the second quarter, his first career interception, and it came in career game 29.

*Tavian Combs returned after missing a game last week with an injury to record eight tackles.

*Aaron Rodriguez averaged 42.6 yards on his seven punts, not counting the two that were blocked.